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Topic: Christians and Racsim (Read 16912 times)

Racism is a problem that continues to plague not only America, but many parts of the world. It seems strange that something seemingly so insignificant as skin color could cause such strife between people. And yet it does. We know it's the product of a fallen world, but racism is much more nuanced and deeper than simply the color of skin. Language, culture, religion and such are contributors but even more so is misunderstanding, contempt, and fear. Racism is xenophobia of the worst kind. Racism can take on many forms too. From subtle forms such as when a person of one color crosses the street to avoid a person of another color; to a more expressed form such as a joke told at the office. Racism is racism, there is no such thing as 'reverse racism' as we hear in America. If you're racist, you're racist. Up until recently, I thought of myself as anything but racist. But I've come to learn that I'm actually a very prejudiced person. I've never burned a cross, but I have told and laughed at many racist jokes. And yes, regretably, I have used racial slurs many times. Looking forward, I have the hope that someday myself, and everyone, will be able to transcend these prejudices, but I know it won't be easy. As St. John Klimakos writes in The Ladder of Divine Ascent:

"Violence and unending pain are the lot of those who aim to ascend to heaven with the body, and this especially at the early stages of the enterprise, when our pleasure-loving disposition and our unfeeling hearts must travel through overwhelming grief toward the love of God and Holiness. It is hard, truly hard."

In Christ, Gabriel

« Last Edit: September 05, 2007, 09:49:17 PM by Jibrail Almuhajir »

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"The Scots-Irish; Brewed in Scotland, bottled in Ireland, uncorked in America." ~Scots-Irish saying

I have enjoyed racial jokes many times...but in a complete jokingly manner, usually with the person of that race. Racism is an illness. I can't understand it at all, and my blood boils when I see an Orthodox Christian being racist. What of the Ethiopian Orthodox? They are of the same faith as us practically, how can you hate someone of the same faith? Racism is an outdated and primitive problem that has obviously subsided greatly, but I dont see it ever being irradicated.

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Христе Боже, Распети и Свети!

"In the history of the human race there have been three principal falls: that of Adam, that of Judas, and that of the pope." Saint Justin Popovic

and my blood boils when I see an Orthodox Christian being racist. What of the Ethiopian Orthodox? They are of the same faith as us practically, how can you hate someone of the same faith?

I am of the opinion that a vast majority of people, including Orthodox Christians, are, of varying degrees, prejudiced. I am also of the opinion that racism doesn't necessarily stem from hating someone, though it often leads to hatred. In my case, I don't see myself as a racist, using the traditional understanding as 'one who hates races other than their own'. I am bothered with the black urban 'gansta' culture. But rather than going after the behavior, I transferred my anger onto all black youths. I'm not defending it, in fact, the reason I posted this was so that we could all have an open, honest dialogue about it. After many of you PM'd me with a lot of great thoughts, I saw my error and have begun to re-align my way of thinking. I still hate the 'gangsta' thuggish culture, but I'm working on separating the behavior from the color.

« Last Edit: September 06, 2007, 12:06:40 AM by Jibrail Almuhajir »

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"The Scots-Irish; Brewed in Scotland, bottled in Ireland, uncorked in America." ~Scots-Irish saying

Everyone is a racist to one degree or another, at least insofar as they prefer a particular culture or people over another. While it can lead to problems, I don't think that it is inherently 'wrong' and it is often justified. It is only when it turns to hate and violence that it become problematic.

I still hate the 'gangsta' thuggish culture, but I'm working on separating the behavior from the color.

There is nothing glamorous about this culture. ANd it has become a cross-cultural thing. In the school district I work in, we have a gang problem, but the main problems are not black gangs like the Bloods or the Crips (though there are a few members), but Hispanic gangs. We also have so many wannabes and they are a dangerous group because they are trying to fit into a group that is quite different. Most of the time, these wannabes are white, some of whom come from fairly affluent families and who want to distance themselves from this particular socio-economic group, except when they can get money from their parents for their thuggish apparel and what-not.

BTW, on a side note, I don't know how many of you have heard of the musical "Avenue Q". It's a mix between "Sesame Street" and "South Park." One of the songs is entitled, "Everyone is a little bit racist." If it weren't so dead on, I'd condemn it.

What would be a scenario where it would be 'justified'? I'm not trying to trap you, I'm sincerely curious.

The dislike of Tu*ks common in Greece (or amongst many Armenians for that matter). The former are a people who unapologetically attempted to impose their philosophy and way of life on the Greeks and in doing so murdered, raped, and tyrannized...to this day the Tu*kish people remain in denial of their attrocities and continue their hostility towards the peoples they once oppressed. An avoidance and even dislike of the Tu*ks by these people and their allies is certainly understandable, and it could even be argued that those who are too friendly with these oppressors betray the sacrifice of their ancestors.

I at least believe this to be an example of justifiable racism that is also founded in the ideals of self-determination and self-preservation.

Everyone is a racist to one degree or another, at least insofar as they prefer a particular culture or people over another. While it can lead to problems, I don't think that it is inherently 'wrong' and it is often justified. It is only when it turns to hate and violence that it become problematic.

GIC, I applaud you for your honesty. I'm brave enough to admit that I'm not a fan of the 'ghetto culture' that so many youth are trapped in these days (particularly more inner city). It may not have anything to do with racism, but it's a prejudice that I have always had I guess. I know we shouldn't judge by such superficial standards, but it's something I can't seem to get over.

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"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."--Mere Christianity

There was once a Hindu Saint who lived on the banks of the Ganges. It was the monsoon, and the Ganges was in flood. A large branch of a tree was washed down by the floodwaters and got caught in some rocks in front of the Saint. The Saint noticed that there was a Scorpion sitting on the branch which was unable to get on to the land because of the rushing floodwaters. The Saint reached out his arm and extended his finger to entice the Scorpion on to it so that he could rescue it. The Scorpion stung him painfully. The Saint reached out his finger again, and the Scorpion stung him again. He repeated this a third, fourth and fifth time, and each time he was stung by the Scorpion. The Saint's arm became swollen and blue, yet he reached out a sixth time to save the Scorpion. One of the Saint's disciples was watching this and yelled: "Why do you keep doing this?! Don't you see that it's only going to kill you?!" To which the Saint replied. "I am doing exactly what the Scorpion is doing. It is the Nature of a Scorpion to sting, and it is the Nature of a Human Being to show Compassion. We are both just following our Natures."

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If you're living a happy life as a Christian, you're doing something wrong.

GIC, as a Greek myself, I do not forget my history but I have no hard feelings towards the Turks, in fact one of my best friends is Turkish and she respects where I come from too. The mistake is in generalising, I guess.For example, I personally dislike politicians enormously but then again I have never been in their shoes. I guess not all of them are that bad so I should try not to be prejudiced. And I see the point you are trying to make, a lot of prejudices stem from facts of life, this is the danger, that in the end, much racism - or any kind of discrimination - can resort to "rational" justification, otherwise, it would be outright absurd. Still, I pray to have the strength to overcome this human tendency to the greatest degree possible. Far from serving as a defensive, self-preserving mechanism, it could function aggressively and blindingly and only take us away from a life of love and peace.

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"Thoughts are like airplanes flying in the air. If you ignore them, there is no problem. If you pay attention to them, you create an airport inside your head and permit them to land!" (Priestmonk Christodoulos Aggeloglou, Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain Mount Athos, Greece, 1998,pp. 29-30, 48)

Oh, it most certainly is. I've spent literally half of my life listening to (and combatting) the baitings and ravings of so-called "Racialists" who are really just a bunch of racists hiding behind semantics. You'll find so-called "racialist" theory in the teachings of the Church of the Creator (as found in Ben Klassen's "White Man's Bible"), Dr. William Pierce's "Turner Diaries", Tom Metzger's White Aryan Resistance, and in the songs of such popular underground "racialist" bands like the thankfully now defunct RaHoWa (which stands for "Racial Holy War"), Max Resist, and Bound for Glory.

When I see the term "racialist", all I see is a racist coward who hides behind Orwellian jargon in order to justify his hatred to the world at large.

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"Hearing a nun's confession is like being stoned to death with popcorn." --Abp. Fulton Sheen

Oh, it most certainly is. I've spent literally half of my life listening to (and combatting) the baitings and ravings of so-called "Racialists" who are really just a bunch of racists hiding behind semantics. You'll find so-called "racialist" theory in the teachings of the Church of the Creator (as found in Ben Klassen's "White Man's Bible"), Dr. William Pierce's "Turner Diaries", Tom Metzger's White Aryan Resistance, and in the songs of such popular underground "racialist" bands like the thankfully now defunct RaHoWa (which stands for "Racial Holy War"), Max Resist, and Bound for Glory.

When I see the term "racialist", all I see is a racist coward who hides behind Orwellian jargon in order to justify his hatred to the world at large.

Sometimes "separatism" it is not hatred but rather "cultural preservation". The Israelites learned this the hard way.

Some examples:

Law commanding Israelites not to marry outside of their people lest their faith become corrupt:

Exodus 34:15 - Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and [one] call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; 16. And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

Them breaking the commandment:

Judges 3:4 - And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5. Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 6. And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods. 7. So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs

And later again:

Ezra9:1 - When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass." 3 So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished. 4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away captive, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.5 At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God. 6 And I said: "O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been very guilty, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day. . . .

10. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments, 11 which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their impurity. 12 Now therefore, do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons; and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.'

Had the Israelites followed the above commandment their faith may very well not have become corrupted. But they did not listen.

In closing, it is important to rightly divide between "hate" and "perserving one's culture".

I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races - that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And in as much as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.

Abraham LincolnPresident of the United States

This obscene statement was made by a man who was head of the so-called “free world” at a time when most major American corporations were already in business.

To me this is the mind of what a "racist" really is.

The ideas posted about "we are a little racist" and "there is some types of racism; some which is justifiable".

I agree that we are in a world that ahs 'broadened' how we see and what we consider a racist.

To me the above statement is from the mind of a real bonifide racist....a bigot. This is a sick individual who has no God and thus need our prayers.

To not like gangs and hate the entire black race because of the hip hop gangs and other urban culture is a preference. It is bad manners and very ignorant way of thinking. But still falls short of "racist".

A racist is a very dangerous person who reaks havoc on society. This person is capable of nay kind of sinister scheme or crime to support or protect or project his sick thinking.

These people are criminals in America today. The same as any other crook or thief or murderer. Their way of thinking and actions thereto are punisheable by law.

Thus let us rethink if any of us are anything like the above. If we are than yes there is a little racism in all of us. And if that is true than we are no better than common criminals.

To give due dilligence to this topic one absolutely must distinguish between racism and cultural perservation. If one wants to preserve their culture it is not racist to do so. Sometimes - not all of the time - that requires staying away from other cultures.

More examples of "cultural preservation" by remaining seperate from other peoples:

St. John Chrysostom was very sharp against keeping company with Jews for very specific reasons:

"Another very serious illness calls for any cure my words can bring, an illness which has become implanted in the body of the Church. We must first root this ailment out and then take thought for matters outside; we must first cure our own and then be concerned for others who are strangers.

(5) What is this disease? The festivals of the pitiful and miserable Jews are soon to march upon us one after the other and in quick succession: the feast of Trumpets, the feast of Tabernacles, the fasts. There are many in our ranks who say they think as we do. Yet some of these are going to watch the festivals and others will join the Jews in keeping their feasts and observing their fasts. I wish to drive this perverse custom from the Church right now. My homilies against the Anomians can be put off to another time, and the postponement would cause no harm. But now that the Jewish festivals are close by and at the very door, if I should fail to cure those who are sick with the Judaizing disease. I am afraid that, because of their ill-suited association and deep ignorance, some Christians may partake in the Jews' transgressions; once they have done so, I fear my homilies on these transgressions will be in vain. For if they hear no word from me today, they will then join the Jews in their fasts; once they have committed this sin it will be useless for me to apply the remedy."

"But do not be surprised that I called the Jews pitiable. They really are pitiable and miserable. When so many blessings from heaven came into their hands, they thrust them aside and were at great pains to reject them."

This obscene statement was made by a man who was head of the so-called “free world” at a time when most major American corporations were already in business.

Not quite, first, most corporations that date back to the 19th Century date to the Gilded Age. Secondly, the president of the United States was not given the colloquial title 'leader of the free world' until after the United States established herself as a superpower, that is to say after WWII...we can thank the Germans for our position amongst the community of nations.

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To not like gangs and hate the entire black race because of the hip hop gangs and other urban culture is a preference. It is bad manners and very ignorant way of thinking. But still falls short of "racist".

To prefer to be with one race or ethnic group of people over another is to favour one race or ethnic group over others, is this not the very definition of racism? A white person who prefers to be with white people or a black person who prefers to be with black people, or an hispanic individual who prefers to be in the hispanic community...all of these are racists. While this may not bet the most extreme form of racism, but by far the most common.

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A racist is a very dangerous person who reaks havoc on society. This person is capable of nay kind of sinister scheme or crime to support or protect or project his sick thinking.

Violence derived from racism is quite dangerous, but I do not believe the standard racism we see will 'reak (sic) havoc on society'...it's probably not beneficial, but there's a large continuium between beneficial and wrecking havoc.

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These people are criminals in America today. The same as any other crook or thief or murderer. Their way of thinking and actions thereto are punisheable by law.

Ummm, no, you're wrong. We do not have thought crimes in the United States, one's God-given right to freedom of conscious is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. One is free to hold whatever views they desire, regardless of whether or not they have your personal approval.

This obscene statement was made by a man who was head of the so-called “free world” at a time when most major American corporations were already in business.

To me this is the mind of what a "racist" really is.

The ideas posted about "we are a little racist" and "there is some types of racism; some which is justifiable".

I agree that we are in a world that ahs 'broadened' how we see and what we consider a racist.

To me the above statement is from the mind of a real bonifide racist....a bigot. This is a sick individual who has no God and thus need our prayers.

To not like gangs and hate the entire black race because of the hip hop gangs and other urban culture is a preference. It is bad manners and very ignorant way of thinking. But still falls short of "racist".

A racist is a very dangerous person who reaks havoc on society. This person is capable of nay kind of sinister scheme or crime to support or protect or project his sick thinking.

These people are criminals in America today. The same as any other crook or thief or murderer. Their way of thinking and actions thereto are punisheable by law.

Thus let us rethink if any of us are anything like the above. If we are than yes there is a little racism in all of us. And if that is true than we are no better than common criminals.

A racist is a racist.

Okay, firstly Abe wasn't President in 1858. I'll defer to the rest of GiC's response to point out the historical inaccuracies. Most american corporations, even the major ones, were not around in the 1850's or 1860's. Historical inaccuracies, while not nullifying your argument, make one less likely to hear you out.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Now, as to racism:

I'm including 4 dictionary definitions for racism; all of them have the same 1st point (racism by thought or belief) and second/third points (racism in action). Only the second points are illegal. The first points can be considered immoral (I would qualify them as such), just be careful - we have to be just as hard on someone who is a racist in thought or belief, as we are on one who hates the poor, or the ill, or infirm, or family, etc.

(1) rac·ism /ˈreɪsɪzəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[rey-siz-uhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation–noun1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.[Origin: 1865–70; < F racisme. See race2, -ism]

The belief that some races are inherently superior (physically, intellectually, or culturally) to others and therefore have a right to dominate them. In the United States, racism, particularly by whites against blacks, has created profound racial tension and conflict in virtually all aspects of American society. Until the breakthroughs achieved by the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, white domination over blacks was institutionalized and supported in all branches and levels of government, by denying blacks their civil rights and opportunities to participate in political, economic, and social communities.

"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."" Isaac Asimov

These people are criminals in America today. The same as any other crook or thief or murderer. Their way of thinking and actions thereto are punisheable by law.

No, it's not, which is why neo-Nazis are allowed to march in support of their ideals and Hispanic groups calling for the creation of "Aztlan" are allowed to do the same. You might want to acquaint yourself with the law before trying to tell us what it is.

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Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl. ~Frederick the Great

Not quite, first, most corporations that date back to the 19th Century date to the Gilded Age. Secondly, the president of the United States was not given the colloquial title 'leader of the free world' until after the United States established herself as a superpower, that is to say after WWII...we can thank the Germans for our position amongst the community of nations.

Indeed, the concept of "The Free World" is 20th century. I know of a reference to the "Free Nations of the World" in a letter from the Republic of Ireland in 1919 for example. And during the mid 19th Century it was England and the British Empire that was in the top position of influence, I'd say.

Using accurate information to support ones points is very helpful. Using easily checked errors and mistaken interpretations does not help ones arguement at all.

Ebor

« Last Edit: September 06, 2007, 05:51:43 PM by Ebor »

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"I wish they would remember that the charge to Peter was "Feed my sheep", not "Try experiments on my rats", or even "Teach my performing dogs new tricks". - C. S. Lewis

I find myself agreeing with GIC on this one. Everyone is racist to a certian point; that being that most people will favor their particular ethnic group or culture they belong to. You can sugar coat it all you want, but it's not being very honest in my opinion.

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"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."--Mere Christianity

Using accurate information to support ones points is very helpful. Using easily checked errors and mistaken interpretations does not help ones arguement at all.

Indeed. None of your comments, or mine, or GiC's, is intended to distract from the issue of racism in society today.

It seems that the issue of racism mirrors the issue of sin itself: where do our thoughts end and our actions begin? How far does a thought go before it is sinful itself (as per Christ's words)?

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"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."" Isaac Asimov

Yes, and everyone is homesexual to a certain point, and everyone steals, and every husband cheats on his wife.......These are just excuses for the worst types of behaviour. How do you and GiC know that "everyone is racist"? How does GiC know that people in Greece "dislike" Turks when he has never been there?

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If you're living a happy life as a Christian, you're doing something wrong.

Indeed. None of your comments, or mine, or GiC's, is intended to distract from the issue of racism in society today.

It seems that the issue of racism mirrors the issue of sin itself: where do our thoughts end and our actions begin? How far does a thought go before it is sinful itself (as per Christ's words)?

Well, something that came to me as I pondered this is that the label of "racism" is perhaps not the whole of the story. (Just to be clear, I personally subscribe to the idea that there is only one "race": Human.) Looking at history and cultures there is a common thread of there being an "Us" and one or more "Thems" and that mere physical features such as colour of skin or hair or differences in features is not always the defining point. American in the last 300 years is not the only place that such prejudice and subsequent mistreatment of other human beings has happened. There are such cases as the caste called "Dalit" in India or the "Burakumin"/"Eta" in Japan or how the English dealt with the Irish and Scots at times. There were peoples in Africa that enslaved others. People that are of the same "stock" if I may use that term, yet treated very differently and cruelly and repressively If you want I can provide links and information about these cases.

As to preferring 'ones own kind' whatever that kind maybe, that is not limited to people of one colour or ethnicity. It seems to me that people like to be with others with whom they have something in common which could be a culture or a hobby or some other preference.

So in how that goes with Christianity, if we are to treat others as we would have them treat us, that is for all Human Beings, not just the ones in "Our" group/clan/ethnicity/Church/country. See all people as just as Human as we are. We don't have to *like* everyone but we should not pre-judge or mistreat those who are "not-my-kind" whatever the definition of 'kind' is.

Ebor

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"I wish they would remember that the charge to Peter was "Feed my sheep", not "Try experiments on my rats", or even "Teach my performing dogs new tricks". - C. S. Lewis

^^Ozgeorge, lots of anecdotal evidence bro. Why do blacks attend mostly black churches? Why do whites marry other whites 90% or more of the time? Why do Orthodox align themselves along jurisdictions based upon ethnic/nationalistic jurisdictions? Wouldn't just these few examples suggest that people like to segregate themselves along racial or cultural lines? It's not a perfect world, just sayin'!

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"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."--Mere Christianity

Yes, and everyone is homesexual to a certain point, and everyone steals, and every husband cheats on his wife.......

Well, not so sure about the first one, but to some degree or another I'd say the other two are right on.

[/quote]These are just excuses for the worst types of behaviour. How do you and GiC know that "everyone is racist"? How does GiC know that people in Greece "dislike" Turks when he has never been there? [/quote]

So no one in all of Greece dislikes Turks? There is a great love that exists today between the Greek and Turkish peoples? No animostity remaining from 400 years of occupation? If so, I'm glad to hear it.

As to preferring 'ones own kind' whatever that kind maybe, that is not limited to people of one colour or ethnicity. It seems to me that people like to be with others with whom they have something in common which could be a culture or a hobby or some other preference.

And I think non-competetive sport is the answer to world peace and harmony!I visited Bulgaria on a shopping trip while holidaying in Greece in Winter 2000. My cousins took me to a mountain village famous for it's embroidery to buy embroidered tablecloths and shirts. I noiced that they had they had wonderful ski slopes, yet none of the locals skied. I hired some skis in Sofia and with the help of a local's 4x4 and snow chains, went up the snowy mountain road and skied down. Seeing this, two of the local lads and one girl asked through their friend who was the only one who spoke Greek if I would teach them to ski. We got them fitted out, and had an amazing skiing lesson using very little spoken language. I showed them how to turn by using an orange under the arch of my foot and "squeezing the orange" to apply the pressure required to turn! After just 90 minutes of these lessons, they were skiing brilliantly, and for the next two days, we spent all the daylight hours on the slopes. I really think that if people can learn to play together more without competing, we touch some deep common ground of our humanity.

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If you're living a happy life as a Christian, you're doing something wrong.

So no one in all of Greece dislikes Turks? There is a great love that exists today between the Greek and Turkish peoples? No animostity remaining from 400 years of occupation? If so, I'm glad to hear it.

Well, while they're not exactly "chummy," they certainly don't have the same hatred as they did 50 years ago, especially in the major cities (where they're no longer "Greek" but "European").

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"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."" Isaac Asimov

I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races - that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And in as much as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.

Abraham LincolnPresident of the United States

This obscene statement was made by a man who was head of the so-called “free world” at a time when most major American corporations were already in business.

To me this is the mind of what a "racist" really is.

The ideas posted about "we are a little racist" and "there is some types of racism; some which is justifiable".

I agree that we are in a world that ahs 'broadened' how we see and what we consider a racist.

To me the above statement is from the mind of a real bonifide racist....a bigot. This is a sick individual who has no God and thus need our prayers.

To not like gangs and hate the entire black race because of the hip hop gangs and other urban culture is a preference. It is bad manners and very ignorant way of thinking. But still falls short of "racist".

A racist is a very dangerous person who reaks havoc on society. This person is capable of nay kind of sinister scheme or crime to support or protect or project his sick thinking.

These people are criminals in America today. The same as any other crook or thief or murderer. Their way of thinking and actions thereto are punisheable by law.

Thus let us rethink if any of us are anything like the above. If we are than yes there is a little racism in all of us. And if that is true than we are no better than common criminals.

A racist is a racist.

Just like a "little white lie" is after all a perfect LIE

For what it`s worth, I would point out that Abraham Lincoln did, after he became President of the United States , outlaw slavery in America.

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"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." - John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

For what it`s worth, I would point out that Abraham Lincoln did, after he became President of the United States , outlaw slavery in America.

Or at least in the parts that seceded, which is the ironic part; the Union didn't really need the legislation.

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"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."" Isaac Asimov

Or at least in the parts that seceded, which is the ironic part; the Union didn't really need the legislation.

Maybe. The notion of slavery was unpopular amongst liberals in the east, however the reality in the (now) midwest (Kansas , Indiana, Ohio) was not substantially different than the deep south in terms of overall mind set of the white populace.

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"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." - John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

For what it`s worth, I would point out that Abraham Lincoln did, after he became President of the United States , outlaw slavery in America.

I am afraid he did not. He stated that if he could save the Union by keeping slavery he would keep it. If he could end the war by ending slavery he would do that as well. Actually he only emancipated the slaves in the states in rebellion as a tool of war. Hardly altruistic reasons.

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"Religion is a neurobiological illness and Orthodoxy is its cure." - Fr. John S. Romanides

I am afraid he did not. He stated that if he could save the Union by keeping slavery he would keep it. If he could end the war by ending slavery he would do that as well. Actually he only emancipated the slaves in the states in rebellion as a tool of war. Hardly altruistic reasons.

None the less, the fact ramains, he did outlaw slavery in America.

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"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." - John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

And I think non-competetive sport is the answer to world peace and harmony!

Or other pastimes that can be enjoyed together. Just last week the World Science Fiction Convention was in Japan. (No, I wasn't there, I just read about it ) There were fans from many many countries all with a common love of reading. As you said, playing together and "play" can mean a number of things, people working in a garden can be playing for example. It's the common interest, the enjoyable activity together that can make the connection that "that person is not like me in some ways, but he/she likes something that I do, too. We have a connection."

Ebor

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"I wish they would remember that the charge to Peter was "Feed my sheep", not "Try experiments on my rats", or even "Teach my performing dogs new tricks". - C. S. Lewis

Or other pastimes that can be enjoyed together. Just last week the World Science Fiction Convention was in Japan. (No, I wasn't there, I just read about it ) There were fans from many many countries all with a common love of reading. As you said, playing together and "play" can mean a number of things, people working in a garden can be playing for example. It's the common interest, the enjoyable activity together that can make the connection that "that person is not like me in some ways, but he/she likes something that I do, too. We have a connection."

Ebor

I still think "Skiers For Peace" sounds better than "SciFi Enthusiasts For Peace".

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If you're living a happy life as a Christian, you're doing something wrong.

I still think "Skiers For Peace" sounds better than "SciFi Enthusiasts For Peace".

And that's OK. As the old Irish saying goes "If we all liked the same thing, there wouldn't be enough to go around."

Some people can ski, some can't, some don't want to but do like to do other things: fishing, cooking, Anime, historical recreation, gardening, quilting, riding horses and so much more. (It really is wonderful that God has created so many different things that people can do for pleasure.)

And then there are all of the people that live in places that are flat, have no snow etc. I remember when we had the OC.net picnic years ago here in MD. Our daughter asked Mor Ephrem about iirc southern India. Then she asked if it ever snowed there and was interested and I think astonished that he said he'd never seen snow there. She was something like 7 at the time.

Ebor

« Last Edit: September 06, 2007, 08:55:19 PM by Ebor »

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"I wish they would remember that the charge to Peter was "Feed my sheep", not "Try experiments on my rats", or even "Teach my performing dogs new tricks". - C. S. Lewis

I was just kidding Ebor. Of course I agree that skiing isn't the only form of play.But in essence, I think that common play is a vital (if not the only) means to find our common humanity. Politics and Economics may start out with good intentions about uniting people, but invariably seem to lead to power inequalities which fuel further resentment (such as "Third World" Debt).

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If you're living a happy life as a Christian, you're doing something wrong.

No, he did not. An amendment to the US Constitution did that, long after he was gone.

As casualties mounted, Lincoln considered ending slavery one of the larger purposes the war might serve. With the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863), he used his war powers to declare an end to slavery behind enemy lines, but this limited proclamation lacked the security that an amendment firmly planted in the Constitution could provide. By the war's end, even the Confederacy had considered abolishing slavery as a war measure. Slavery had already led to one conflict, and the nation could not allow it to continue and thus lead to another. In January of 1865, Congress proposed the Thirteenth Amendment, which was ratified that December. At the time, its passage was thought sufficient not only to end slavery but to entitle freed slaves to the rights of all American citizens.

Lincoln was assassinated on April 14 , 1865. Congress proposed the Thirteenth Amendment January of 1865 and ratified it in December of 1865. Lincoln was alive at the time of the proposal to Congress and had been dead a mere eight months after it`s ratification.

To claim slavery in America ended " long after he was gone" is patently false.To claim Lincoln did not outlaw slavery in America is historical revisionism.

« Last Edit: September 06, 2007, 09:23:33 PM by Mo the Ethio »

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"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." - John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)